Paving block



1,638,7 1927' 1-. J. PRIESTMAN PAVING BLOCK Filed Nov. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-1.2.

//v VE/V 7'02 THOMAS J. Re/EsrMA/v Aug. 9, 1927. 1,638,744

T. J. PRIESTMAN PAVING BLOCK Filed Nov. 13, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v l/E/V 70/? 7710/1015 J PRIEST/14AM flTTO/QNE K5 Patented Aug. 9,- 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,638,744 PATENT, OFFICE.

THOMAS J AMES PRIESTMAN, OI BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

PAVING BLOCK.

Application filed November 13, 1926, Serial No.

This invention relates to blocks for the purpose of forming traffic control linesv in the roadway. y

The object of the present invention is to .5 provide improved means for forming the traflic control lines in'roadwas and it incorporates either metal plates aving means whereby they may be anchored in the ma-- terial (when in a plastic state) of which the W road ismade, or (preferably) complete blocks consisting of the metal plates permanently secured to blocks of concrete or like material. 7

-According to the present invention I provide a trafiic control line element comprising a metal plate having upon its under surface a number of downwardly extending in? tegrally formed bosses or lugs, Within each of which is embedded the head of an anchorage member with the projecting portion of which the'cement, concrete or other block or foundation is adapted to engage.

These prongs preferably consist of rods or bifurcated rivets having suitable heads, for engaging \in the lugs, theprongs being secured within the lugs by being cast there-.

wire or rod bent at the centreto form an eye, this eye being embeddedin the boss or lug upon the metal plate, the metal of the boss or lug passing through the eye.

Before attaching such plates by embedding the prongs in theconcrete or foundation, the bifurcated rivets may havev thelr sides opened out or movedapart so as to en gage more effectively with the block or foundation.

Each of my paving blocks may conven 40 iently form a letter or indicator, such as an arrow, whilst a series of blocks may form an suitable combination of letters such as the letters S T O P. These letters may be conveniently formed by providing the metallic element with an opening corre-. sponding' .to the shape of letter required, this opening being filled by means of any suitable material. This may consist of a suitably coloured cement which will produce and at the same time a non-slipping surface, I

will be readily seen against the surrouiiding roadway,'or 1f desired the filling material may be formed by the concrete orthe like forming the roadway and be forced upward- Qly into the openingin the metalllc element when it is mounted in position.

'lhaiprongs may consist of lengths of 148,287, and infireat imam October 12, 19 25.

The openings formed in the plates may be filled if desired by means of blocks of rubber or other similar material, and these blocks may be provided with flanges or the like to retain them securely in position. a In any case the plates may be mounted.

upon concrete or like blocks so as to form bricks, and the spaces around the arrow or other device may be filled in on the surface of the concrete or the like with any suit-able composition, preferably of a dark colour so as to cause the arrow or other indicating or signalling device to show up clearly.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing a number of blocks constructed according to my invention in use. 1

Figure 2 is a plan view of a number of blocks constructed according to my i'nven- .75 tion associated together so as to form a word or sign.

Figure 3 isa section of one construction of block secured to a concrete or other base.

Figure 4 is an underface view o'f'the metallic portion of the block.

Figure 5 isa section of a modified construction. I .7

Figure 6* is an underface view of the meta5llic portion of the block shown in Figure Figure 7 is a section of a modified construction of block. 7

Figure 8 is a view'of a further modifiedconstruction. v

In carrying my invention into effect I. prefer to construct the elements 1 of cast or forged metal, such as aluminium, which will present a relatively rough surface and which is of pa colour which will show up clearly in relation to. most of the road surfacing materials at present used.

In the construction illustrated by the ac companying drawings each element 1 is provided upon its under surface with a num-. ber of downwardly projecting bosses or lugs 2 within each of which. is embedded a bi furcated rivet or split pin 3 having its centre bent into an eye 14 and its ends 4 bent outwardly rior to the insertion of the ele- 1 ment wit in the concrete or other base member 5 which isallowed to set around them and thereby retain the paving element firmly in POSltlOD.

In the case of the metallic elements/or I plates being formed as castings, the e e portions 14 of the bifurcated rivets or sp '1 Y and form a non-slipping surface and at the crete or the like, they are provided with .non-skidding it may be'provided with,

r other foundation may project,

pins are placed a the mid and the inetal or numbers, which holes can be conveniently formed when casting. "Ihese holes may be filled in with a suitable substance such as a coloured cement 7 which may project above the surface of the surrounding metal same time be readily seen.

If desired, instead of the metallic elements having holes in theshapeflof letters or numerals, they may be provided with holes arranged in any suitable manner such as is shown clearly in Figures. 5 and 6 through which the cement or concrete foundation may project at 8, and thus form Y to conform to the shape of the road or other surface as a non-slipping surface.

In the constructlon shown in Figure 7,

blocks 9 of material such as rubber which project from the surface and are prevented rom becoming displaced by flanges 10 which engage with the under surfaces of the metallic element. I

In the'construction illustrated by Figure 8 I have shown an indicating device in the form of an arrow. In this construct on the.

arrow 11 is formed as a metallic plate and is provided with downwardly projecting members each of which is secured within a lug upon the under surface of the metallic element and engages with the concrete or other foundation 12 in a similar manner to the previously described constructions.v

In order that the arrow .may be rendered holes or openings 13 which may be filled in with coloured cement, blocks of rubber or the like, or through which the concrete or An indicator in the 'form of an arrow constructed according to my invention can be readily observed by the drivers of vehicles and can be used in a variety of ways for the control of traffic.- For instance, one or more arrows can be used in conjunction-with a white'line as'shown clearly in Figure 1, the white line being also built up of a number'of block's, whilst as shown also in Figure 1 my construction of blocks which include-numerals or letters may be mounted in the road surface at suitable points for the control of trafiic.

If required, the up'persurface of the block may be cast or otherwise formed with holes in the shape of letters as in the construction'illustrated, or the said upper surface maybecleft plain or it may be rovided' with a number ofholes or openings into which the material 05 of the road surface will project. I g If required,instead of allowing the material of the road surface to project into the said holes or openings, pitch or other material may be poured into the said letters or openings from above. If required, blocks may be constructed having the letters S TU P and such blocks can be used with any other plainor perforated blocksfor a stop line such as'is shown clearly in Figures -1 and 2." The metallic elements'forming my improved blocks may, if desired, be curved 30 shown clearly inFigures 5,6and7." a-

lVhat I claim then is 1 A' traffic sign 'element comprising a block formed by a cast metal plate having 95 integrally formed; lugs upon one side, anchorage members cast in said lugs and having a plurality of prongs projecting therefrom, a moulded backing in which said anchorage members are'embedded, said plate having openings, and non-slipping blocks in said openings.

- 2. A traffic sign element comprising a block formed of.a metal 'plate'having lugs onone side, anchorage members secured in said lugs and having a plurality of prongs projecting therefrom, a moulded backing in which the anchorage members are embedded, said plate having openings therein,

andnon-shppmg materlal in said openings.

3; A trafiic sign element, comprising a block formed of a metal plate having lugs on one face, anchorage. members secured in said -lugs,.a moulded backing in which the anchorage members are embedded, said plate having openings therein,'and flanged non-slipping blocks anchored in said openings. v,

4. A traffic sign element comprising a" block formed of a metal plate having lugs on one face, anchoragemembers secured 1n said lugs, a moulded backing in which the anchorage members are embedded,-said plate having openings therein, and non-slipping flanged resilient blocks anchored in :said 1X5 openings. j

'In witness whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS JAMES PRIESTMAN. 

